Mac keyboard shortcuts

By pressing certain key combinations, you can do things that normally need a mouse, trackpad, or other input device.

To use a keyboard shortcut, press and hold one or more modifier keys and then press the last key of the shortcut. For example, to use Command-C (copy), press and hold the Command key, then the C key, then release both keys. Mac menus and keyboards often use symbols for certain keys, including modifier keys:

Command (or Cmd) ⌘

Shift ⇧

Option (or Alt) ⌥

Control (or Ctrl) ⌃

Caps Lock ⇪

Fn

On keyboards made for Windows PCs, use the Alt key instead of Option, and the Windows logo key instead of Command.

Some keys on some Apple keyboards have special symbols and functions, such as for display brightness , keyboard brightness , Mission Control, and more. If these functions aren't available on your keyboard, you might be able to reproduce some of them by creating your own keyboard shortcuts. To use these keys as F1, F2, F3, or other standard function keys, combine them with the Fn key.

Cut, copy, paste, and other common shortcuts

Command-X: Cut the selected item and copy it to the Clipboard.

Command-C: Copy the selected item to the Clipboard. This also works for files in the Finder.

Command-V: Paste the contents of the Clipboard into the current document or app. This also works for files in the Finder.

Command-Z: Undo the previous command. You can then press Shift-Command-Z to Redo, reversing the undo command. In some apps, you can undo and redo multiple commands.

Command-A: Select All items.

Command-F: Find items in a document or open a Find window.

Command-G: Find Again: Find the next occurrence of the item previously found. To find the previous occurrence, press Shift-Command-G.

Command-H: Hide the windows of the front app. To view the front app but hide all other apps, press Option-Command-H.

Command-M: Minimize the front window to the Dock. To minimize all windows of the front app, press Option-Command-M.

Command-O: Open the selected item, or open a dialog to select a file to open.

Command-P: Print the current document.

Command-S: Save the current document.

Command-T: Open a new tab.

Command-W: Close the front window. To close all windows of the app, press Option-Command-W.

Control–Command–Power button:* Force your Mac to restart, without prompting to save any open and unsaved documents.

Control–Command–Media Eject: Quit all apps, then restart your Mac. If any open documents have unsaved changes, you will be asked whether you want to save them.

Control–Option–Command–Power button* or Control–Option–Command–Media Eject: Quit all apps, then shut down your Mac. If any open documents have unsaved changes, you will be asked whether you want to save them.

Shift-Command-Q: Log out of your macOS user account. You will be asked to confirm. To log out immediately without confirming, press Option-Shift-Command-Q.

Finder and system shortcuts

Command-D: Duplicate the selected files.

Command-E: Eject the selected disk or volume.

Command-F: Start a Spotlight search in the Finder window.

Command-I: Show the Get Info window for a selected file.

Command-R: (1) When an alias is selected the Finder: show the original file for the selected alias. (2) In some apps, such as Calendar or Safari, refresh or reload the page. (3) In Software Update preferences, check for software updates again.

Shift-Command-C: Open the Computer window.

Shift-Command-D: Open the desktop folder.

Shift-Command-F: Open the Recents window, showing all of the files you viewed or changed recently.

Shift-Command-G: Open a Go to Folder window.

Shift-Command-H: Open the Home folder of the current macOS user account.

Command–Brightness Down: Turn video mirroring on or off when your Mac is connected to more than one display.

Option–Brightness Up: Open Displays preferences. This works with either Brightness key.

Control–Brightness Up or Control–Brightness Down: Change the brightness of your external display, if supported by your display.

Option–Shift–Brightness Up or Option–Shift–Brightness Down: Adjust the display brightness in smaller steps. Add the Control key to this shortcut to make the adjustment on your external display, if supported by your display.

Option–Mission Control: Open Mission Control preferences.

Command–Mission Control: Show the desktop.

Control–Down Arrow: Show all windows of the front app.

Option–Volume Up: Open Sound preferences. This works with any of the volume keys.

Option–Shift–Volume Up or Option–Shift–Volume Down: Adjust the sound volume in smaller steps.

Option–Keyboard Brightness Up: Open Keyboard preferences. This works with either Keyboard Brightness key.